Written message receiving and signaling holder

ABSTRACT

A written message receiving and signaling holder is placed on a horizontal structure or secured to a vertical structure in a dwelling to receive an inserted end of a written message, and to be responsive to such insertion creating a signal, such as a flashing red light, to be observed by a person who is to receive the message. Inside the holder an actuating and pivoting lever at one of its ends moves to accommodate the thickness of the paper and at the other end moves to close an electric circuit, inclusive of batteries and a flashing or blinking light observable through a jeweled red lens.

United States atent [1 1 Lowery et al.

1 Dec. 25, 1973 WRITTEN MESSAGE RECEIVING AND SIGNALING HOLDER [76]lnventors: Dennis J. Lowery, 130 Santa Fe Dr.; Robert E. Merchant, 1421N. 23rd, both of Grand Junction, Colo. 81501 [22] Filed: Apr. 24, 1972[21] Appl. No.: 246,713

UNITED STATES PATENTS Story ZOO/61.59 X

Primary Examiner-Donald J. Yusko Assistant Examiner william M. WanniskyAttorney-Roy E. Mattern, Jr.

57 ABSTRACT A written message receiving and signaling holder is placedon a horizontal structure or secured to a vertical structure in adwelling to receive an inserted end of a written message, and to beresponsive to such insertion creating a signal, such as a flashing redlight, to be observed by a person who is to receive the message. Insidethe holder an actuating and pivoting lever at one of its ends moves toaccommodate the thickness of the paper and at the other end moves toclose an electric circuit, inclusive of batteries and a flashing orblinking light observable through a jeweled red lens.

10 Claims, 7 Drawing Figures WRITTEN MESSAGE RECEIVING AND SIGNALINGHOLDER BACKGROUND OF INVENTION There is always a need for alerting aperson upon his return to a written message which awaits his return tobe read and acted upon as soon as possible. Many large complex holdingand signaling devices have been installed in hospitals for example toalert incoming Doctors to written messages awaiting their arrival.Similar devices have been used in other information centers.

However, no individual message receiving unit to hold an edge portion ofa message, is available, where a signal is actuated upon the insertionof the message paper and remains actuated until the written message iswithdrawn by the person to whom it has been directed for promptattention. By use of the individual small message holder locatedthroughout dwellings, such as offices, factories, homes, motels andhotels, an important written message receives prompt attention avoidingits oversight, if for example, it might otherwise be unintentionallycovered up or mislaid.

DRAWINGS OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENT FIG. 1 is a front perspective view ofthe written message receiving and signaling holder with a writtenmessage inserted;

FIG. 2 is a front exploded perspective view of the written messageholder with portions broken away, indicating how the cover is removed toconveniently view and service the base portions equipped with all theoperable components, the positioning pegs on the cover being used duringand after assembly;

FIG. 3 is a rear view of the base portions of the written message holderwith one battery shown removed and the other, broken away, to showterminal contact wiring;

FIGS. 4 and 5 schematically show in a partial crosssectional view andpartial rear view, the positioning of operating electromechanicalcomponents, particularly with respect to switching, prior to entry of awritten message into the holder; and

FIGS. 6 and 7 schematically show in a partial crosssectional view andpartial rear view, the positioning of operating electromechanicalcomponents, particularly with respect to switching, after entry of awritten message into the holder.

DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENT The written message receiving andsignalingholder 10, illustrated in FIG. 1, receives an end portion of apaper 12 hearing an important written message for a person who has thismessage holder placed on his or her office desk home desk, or otherplaces where important messages are placed for prompt receipt, reading,and consideration, for example, such as a desk or table in a motel orhotel room. The base 14 of holder 10, rests evenly on a horizontalstructure such as a table top without additional securement; however itmay be secured. Also the message holder 10 is placed adjacent to a wall,on a wall, or on a vertical panel, as a fastening means, notillustrated, is used to secure the base 14 to such a vertical structure.In all its locations, the message holder 10 is placed for convenientviewing by a person entering a room, so a flashing light, as viewed atthe jeweled lens 16 on the cover 20, is quickly observed directing aperson to a newly arrived written message 12, held at one of its ends inthe written message receiving and signaling holder 10.

In FIGS. 2 and 3, the overall construction and interior arrangement ofthe electro-mechanical components are shown which operate to commencethe holding and signaling functions of holder It). The cover 20 snapsinto place on the base 1 3, as guided by pegs 22 on cover 20 which arereceived in holes 24 on base 14. The cover 20, also is guided andremovably held by the upstanding snap on holders 26 at each end of thebase, each holder 26 having a top tapered cam surface structure 28 and aside protruding rounded cam structure 30 to receive and removably holdthe ends 32 of the ho]- low cover 20. The cover 20 on its front slopingpanel 36 has an opening 38 filled with a jewel lens 16 which ispreferably red in color, to transmit a preferably intermittent orflashing light created by the flasher bulb 42, using a bimetal filament.

Also the cover 20 has a beveled raised entry portion 44 along the entirebottom 46 of its front panel 36, as shown in FIGS. 4 and 6, to aid inthe insertion ofa written message 12 into the written message receivingand signal holder 10. Such convenient insertion ofa written message 12is further insured because the base 14 has a full width sloping entrysurface structure 50 which in conjunction with the full width beveledraised entry portion 44 along the bottom 46 of the front cover 36,completes an overall guiding entry to receive the inserted end of thewritten message 12. This overall guiding entry is positioned to receivepapers of several different thicknesses from very thin onionskin tolight cardboard. However, it is restricted sufficiently in mostembodiments to prevent the forceful entry of heavier cardboard or othermaterial which might damage the interior components of the writtenmessage holder 10.

As particularly shown in FIGS. 4 and 6, upon the entry of the endportions of the written message paper 12, a beveled structure 54 on thefront pressure foot 56 ofa sensing and holding lever 60, continuesguiding the written message 12 until it stops against the abutment 62 onthe lever 60. During this entry, the lever is raised to accommodate thethickness of the message paper 12, at its pressure foot 56. Then at itscircular opening 64 it also pivots about an axle or pin 66 serving as afulcrum, which in turn is secured to base 14, being located near thefront end of a centered and transverse elongated slot 68 formed in baseM to partially receive and guide the lever 60 during its pivotingmotions.

The rear end 72 of lever 60 extends much farther to the rear then thepressure foot 56 extends to the front, in reference to the location ofaxle or pin 66 about which lever 60 pivots upon the entry of messagepaper 12. Therefore there is considerable more arcuate movement of therear actuating end 72 of lever 60 down into slot 68 of base 14. Thismovement is utilized to close an overall electrical circuit 76 and causethe flasher bulb 42 to operate creating a light signal to be observed atjeweled lens 16 on cover 20.

To this rear actuating end 72, a multiply bent electrical wire 78 issecured and guided by the lever 60 and a cutout 82 in base 141. Aboveits securement location, wire '78 formed first in an upright portion 84and then in an overcenter bend portion 86 to serve as a contact springof high tensile strength, and thereafter it extends downwardly to thebase 14 where it is held by receiving portions 88 and then positionedfor connection above to the terminal 92 on ,the clip-bracket 94, whichsupports the light bulb socket 98.

. Upon the downward movement of actuating end 72 of lever 60, theovercenter bend portion 84 of wire 78 makes a sliding electrical contactwitha horizontal contact portion 100 of a multiply bent electrical wire102, also serving as a contact spring of high tensile strength. Thiswire 102 is thereafter bent at a right angle a'nd sloped, downwardly ina leg portion E04, which is held by receiving portions 108 of base 14and then positioned for continuing on above through a positioning bentportion 110 to terminate in a spring contact coil 112.

This spring contact coil 112 is contacted by a battery 116 used inseries with another battery 116, which contacts the turned down contactportion 120 of the clip-bracket 94. These batteries 116, theclip-bracket 94, and the spring contact coil 112 are all positionedrelative to the base 14, and all the other components by the twoupstanding three wall open top compartments, left 124, and right 126.These compartments 125 and 126 are often formed integrally with the base14, as are the wire receiving portions, which are non-conductingmaterials and suitable for molding as one unit, preferably using plasticmaterials.

SUMMARY OF ADVANTAGES The written message receiving and signaling holderis conveniently placed in quickly observable locations where importantwritten messages are left for immediate attention of persons soon toarrive, firmly holding the written message'and maintaining a continuingvisual signal until the message is observed, and withdrawn to be read bythe recipient. It is compactly arranged and very portable, yet ofsufficient size to be effective. It is quickly serviced upon the snapoff removal of a cover, resulting in the balance of the components beingreadily observed and serviced.

Preferably, the base is molded to include positioning structures for allthe electromechanical components. The wires'and the axle or pin may beinserted in cavities in the molded base, being snapped into suchpositioning structures, or preferably being placed there and thensubsequently covered with compatible material to substantiallypermanently install them. By such construction, the'overall messageholder may thereafter sustain a reasonable amount of abrupt handling andyet remain operable.

As assembled and ready for operation, this written message receiving andsignaling holder is used in homes, offices, motels, hotels, and allother places where written messages must be left to await the subsequentarrival of the person to whom the message is directed. It is anindividual unit to create a signal and to hold a written message ormessages directed to an individual who must be informed quickly upon hisor her return so his or her needed consideration and action may proceedpromptly, eliminating any possibility of the loss, misplacement orcovering over, of the very important writen message.

We claim:

l. A self contained written message receiving, gripping, and signalingholder for presenting an important written message for prompt andeffective finding and observation by an intended receiver upon his orher return, comprising:

a. a housing having a base, a removable cover, and an entry for an edgeportion of a sheet of paper;

b. a self contained electrical circuit inclusive of batteries, switchand signal all mounted on the base of the housing to fit within theremovable cover of the housing;

c. a non conducting gripping lever pivotally secure to the base of thehousing to fit within the removable cover of the housing, having at itsfront end a beveled structure to guide an incoming edge portion of apaper, on which a message has been written, through the entry of thehousing and between the top of this base of the housing and this beveledstructure of the lever, causing the front end of this lever to tiltupwardly and, yet while doing so, to grip this incoming edge portion ofthe paper between itself and the top of the base of the housing, andcausing the rear end of this lever to tilt downwardly to contact and toclose the switch of the self contained battery powered electricalcircuit and thereby energize the signal indicating the presence of theimportant message to the intended receiver.

2. A self contained written message receiving, gripping and signalingholder, as claimed in claim 1, wherein the base of the housing has asloping edge portion to guide the incoming edge portion of a paper, onwhich a message has been written, into the entry of the housing.

3. A self contained written message receiving, gripping and signalingholder, as claimed in claim 1, wherein the cover of the housing has asloping edge portion to guide the incoming edge portion of a paper, inwhich a message has been written, into the entry of the housing.

4. A self contained written message receiving, gripping and signalingholder, as claimed in claim 1, wherein the cover of the housing has asloping edge portion and wherein the base of the housing has anoppositely sloping edge portion which together guide the incoming edgeportion of a paper, on which a message has been written, into the entryof the housing 5. A self contained written message receiving, grippingand signaling holder, as claimed in claim 1, wherein the front end ofthe lever at the inward termination of the beveled structure has anabutment structure to stop the incoming edge portion of the paper onwhich the message has been written, leaving the major portions of thepaper in full view.

6. A self contained written message receiving, gripping and signalingholder, as claimed in claim 1, wherein the non conducting gripping leveris pivotally secured to the base of the housing nearer the beveledstructure so the lever movements caused by the incoming edge portions ofa written message are more effective in closing the electrical switchlocated near the other end of this lever.

7. A self contained written message receiving, gripping and signalingholder, as claimed in claim 1, wherein the signal of the self containedelectrical circuit utilizes an electric light.

8. A self contained written message receiving, gripping and signalingholder, as claimed in claim 7, wherein the removable cover of thehousing has a small light transmitting structure for observation of thesignal light operations and the remaining portions of the cover and allof the base block the passage of light.

wires which are also wires of the electrical circuit, and

they are moved into sliding contact with each other upon pivotalmovement of the non conducting gripping lever when an edge portion of apaper is inserted into the entry of the housing.

1. A self contained written message receiving, gripping, and signalingholder for presenting an important written message for prompt andeffective finding and observation by an intended receiver upon his orher return, comprising: a. a housing having a base, a removable cover,and an entry for an edge portion of a sheet of paper; b. a selfcontained electrical circuit inclusive of batteries, switch and signalall mounted on the base of the housing to fit within the removable coverof the housing; c. a non conducting gripping lever pivotally secured tothe base of the housing to fit within the removable cover of thehousing, having at its front end a beveled structure to guide anincoming edge portion of a paper, on which a message has been written,through the entry of the housing and between the top of this base of thehousing and this beveled structure of the lever, causing the front endof this lever to tilt upwardly and, yet while doing so, to grip thisincoming edge portion of the paper between itself and the top of thebase of the housing, and causing the rear end of this lever to tiltdownwardly to contact and to close the switch of the self containedbattery poweRed electrical circuit and thereby energize the signalindicating the presence of the important message to the intendedreceiver.
 2. A self contained written message receiving, gripping andsignaling holder, as claimed in claim 1, wherein the base of the housinghas a sloping edge portion to guide the incoming edge portion of apaper, on which a message has been written, into the entry of thehousing.
 3. A self contained written message receiving, gripping andsignaling holder, as claimed in claim 1, wherein the cover of thehousing has a sloping edge portion to guide the incoming edge portion ofa paper, in which a message has been written, into the entry of thehousing.
 4. A self contained written message receiving, gripping andsignaling holder, as claimed in claim 1, wherein the cover of thehousing has a sloping edge portion and wherein the base of the housinghas an oppositely sloping edge portion which together guide the incomingedge portion of a paper, on which a message has been written, into theentry of the housing
 5. A self contained written message receiving,gripping and signaling holder, as claimed in claim 1, wherein the frontend of the lever at the inward termination of the beveled structure hasan abutment structure to stop the incoming edge portion of the paper onwhich the message has been written, leaving the major portions of thepaper in full view.
 6. A self contained written message receiving,gripping and signaling holder, as claimed in claim 1, weerein the nonconducting gripping lever is pivotally secured to the base of thehousing nearer the beveled structure so the lever movements caused bythe incoming edge portions of a written message are more effective inclosing the electrical switch located near the other end of this lever.7. A self contained written message receiving, gripping and signalingholder, as claimed in claim 1, wherein the signal of the self containedelectrical circuit utilizes an electric light.
 8. A self containedwritten message receiving, gripping and signaling holder, as claimed inclaim 7, wherein the removable cover of the housing has a small lighttransmitting structure for observation of the signal light operationsand the remaining portions of the cover and all of the base block thepassage of light.
 9. A self contained written message, receiving,gripping and signaling holder, as claimed in claim 8, wherein a flasherfilament is incorporated into the signal light.
 10. A self containedwritten message receiving, gripping and signaling holder, as claimed inclaim 1, wherein the switch is composed of spaced high tensile wireswhich are also wires of the electrical circuit, and they are moved intosliding contact with each other upon pivotal movement of the nonconducting gripping lever when an edge portion of a paper is insertedinto the entry of the housing.